21 Combo blackjack

ABSTRACT

A gaming method is disclosed and comprises: dealing at least one card to at least one player and to the dealer; requiring each player and the dealer to select a community card value from a set of predetermined community cards; allowing each player and the dealer to decide whether to use an additional card to form their hand; and allowing each player and the dealer to create a Blackjack hand comprising: (1) the at least one card, (2) the community card value selected, and (3) an optional additional card. A gaming layout is also disclosed and comprises: at least one player position that is adapted to identify a player&#39;s set of cards and includes at least one betting location, a first position to designate a first community card value, a second position to designate a second community card value, and a third position to designate a third community card value.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a method and apparatus for playing a card game. More particularly, the present invention relates to a modified Blackjack game that may be played as a casino table game or as a video game.

BACKGROUND

Blackjack is the most popular card game offered in casinos today. In fact, casinos will often devote more tables to Blackjack than to all other forms of card games combined. Blackjack is based on simple concepts and procedures that are readily understood by novice and regular players alike. Additionally, the game allows players to use basic strategies that provide some degree of player control and that allow for heightened excitement.

Blackjack requires the use of at least one standard deck of 52 playing cards. These cards each have a numerical or letter value, and a suit associated with them. A standard deck consists of four sets (of thirteen cards each) numbered as follows: A (ace), 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, J (jack), Q (queen), and K (king). There are four cards of each value, one of each “suit”: spades, diamonds, clubs, and hearts. For the purposes of Blackjack, the suit is irrelevant, and only the value of the card is considered. Again, for the purposes of Blackjack, the value of the cards is computed as follows: for cards valued two through nine, they are given the value shown on the card; tens, jacks, queens, and kings are each valued as ten points; and aces may be valued as one point, or as eleven points, at the player's discretion. While Blackjack may be played with only a single deck of cards, casinos will usually use “shoes” of multiple decks mixed together to discourage card-counting.

A Blackjack game consists of one dealer (in casinos, the dealer represents the “house,” or the casino), and one or more players. Blackjack is scored by comparing the combined value of each player's cards against the dealer's. In other words, each player's hand is compared individually to the dealer's hand; every player at a table may win any given hand against the dealer, or every player may lose to the dealer. More commonly, some players will beat the dealer and others will lose. Players do not compete against each other.

To determine whether the player or the dealer wins a hand, the value of each card the player has is added together. For example, a player with a seven (of any suit) and a queen (of any suit) has a hand value of 17. If the value of all the cards in a player's hand ever exceeds 21, then the player “busts” and loses the hand (keeping in mind that the player may choose to value aces as one if necessary). The same is true of the dealer's hand; however, players are always given the opportunity to bust first, giving an advantage to the dealer. If a player busts and then the dealer subsequently busts, the dealer wins the hand.

If neither the player nor the dealer bust, then the person with the cards that total the highest value wins the hand. If the player loses the hand, he loses his original bet. If the player wins the hand, he is paid an amount equal to his original bet. However, if the combined values of the cards in the player's hand and the dealer's hand are the same, then the hand is usually a “push,” wherein neither the player nor the dealer wins the hand and the player's original bet is returned.

In most cases, if the player's first two cards are an ace and any card with a value of ten (i.e., a ten, jack, queen, or king), this is known as a “blackjack” or “twenty-one,” and the player wins immediately and typically will be paid one-and-a-half times his original bet. Similarly, if the dealer gets a “blackjack,” then each player loses, unless a player also had a “blackjack,” in which case that player “pushes” that hand.

To begin a hand, the dealer will deal one card to the person to his left, and continue to deal one card to each player in a clockwise pattern until each player has one card. These cards are usually dealt face up (i.e., with the value and suit exposed). The dealer will then deal himself a single card, almost always face down. The dealer will then repeat the process by dealing each player a second card (usually also face up), and then will deal himself a second card, usually face up as well. Each player will therefore begin with two cards (usually both face up), and the dealer will have two cards (usually one face up and one face down).

After the player looks at the value of his cards, he may choose to “stand,” which means that he keeps the two cards that he was dealt. He may also “hit,” which means that he receives another card from the deck. The value of this new card is added to the total of his hand. The player may then choose to stand or hit again, and can receive as many additional cards as he wants. However, if the sum of the player's cards exceeds a score of 21, the player busts and loses his bet.

In most casinos, the player also has the option of “doubling down,” usually only if the first two cards add up to a total of nine, ten, or eleven. To double down, the player doubles his original bet and receives one, and only one, more card. In most casinos players also have the option of “splitting” when both cards have the same value (i.e., both are eights or both are tens—players can not split if one card is a ten and the other is a different card also with a value of ten). To split, the player takes his two cards and makes two different hands, adding a new bet to the new hand created. The dealer then deals an additional card to each hand, so the player now has two hands with two cards each, each with a bet of the original amount. The two hands are then played normally.

Once each player has gone in turn and either busted or decided to stand (and not receive any more cards), the dealer flips both of his cards face up. If the dealer's hand has a certain total value (usually 17), the dealer stands, otherwise, the dealer hits. Dealers will often also hit if they have an ace and a six (known as a “soft” 17, since the ace can be used as a one instead of an eleven if the card drawn would otherwise increase the dealer's hand over 21). If the dealer busts, then all players who had not previously busted win the hand. Once the dealer stands (on a 17, 18, 19, 20, or 21), his hand total is compared to each player who had not busted in turn, and each player wins an amount equal to his bet, loses his bet, or pushes, based on which hand value is higher as described above.

There are a number of variations on the rules described above, including “insurance bets,” single-deck Blackjack, and games wherein both of the dealer's cards are dealt face up. However, Blackjack and most variations thereof suffer from a number of drawbacks. For instance, the player must generally keep the two cards he is dealt, and he does not have the option to discard either of them. The player may thus feel that he does not have sufficient control with respect to the cards that are dealt to him.

Another drawback to conventional Blackjack games is that the amount that a player can win is severely limited by his starting bet. The player is not afforded sufficient betting opportunities that could lead to bigger payouts. As such, other betting options are desirable for the Blackjack player other than just varying the size of their wagers. In conventional Blackjack, a player may earn one-and-a-half times his original bet on a “blackjack,” but otherwise he is limited to winning the amount that he wagers (even by splitting or doubling down, the player must double his original bet for a chance to win only that doubled amount). There is no possibility in conventional Blackjack for a player to make “side bets,” and there is no opportunity to win five, ten, or even sixty times his original bet. The addition of such variations would likely make Blackjack more fun and exciting for players, as it increases the unpredictability of Blackjack and increases the payouts that a player may receive. The addition of side bets or other betting opportunities would also likely make Blackjack more profitable for casinos. These variations are therefore likely to increase the popularity of Blackjack even further. Other advantages of the present invention will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art in light of the ensuing description of the present invention.

SUMMARY

The present invention is directed to a method of playing a modified Blackjack game that generates additional excitement, player control, and more revenue for both players and casinos than conventional Blackjack. The present invention provides the player with added options with respect to the cards that are dealt to him. As such, the player may feel like he has more control of the outcome of the game. The present invention also provides additional betting opportunities and an opportunity for larger payouts than conventional Blackjack games. Providing players with more opportunities to win and the opportunity for bigger payouts would bring greater excitement and interest to players and will likely attract new players to the game.

To achieve the foregoing and in accordance with the purposes of the present invention, the present invention is directed to a gaming method that comprises: dealing at least one card to at least one player and to the dealer; requiring each player and the dealer to select a community card value from a set of predetermined community cards; allowing each player and the dealer to decide whether to use an additional card to form their hand; and allowing each player and the dealer to create a Blackjack hand comprising: (1) the at least one card dealt to them, (2) the community card value selected, and (3) optionally, an additional card.

One embodiment of the present invention is directed to a method of playing a modified Blackjack game comprising the following steps: (a) requiring each player to place at least one bet before receiving any cards; (b) dealing one face up card and one face down card to each player; (c) dealing a first card and second card face down to the dealer; (d) requiring each player to select a community card value from a set of predetermined community card values of “4”, “7”, or “10”; (e) allowing each player to decide whether to use the face down card to form his hand; (f) requiring dealer to reveal his first card; (g) requiring dealer to select a community card value from a set of predetermined community card values of “4”, “7”, or “10”; (h) allowing dealer to decide whether to use his second card to form his hand; (i) if players chose to use face down card in step “e”, requiring players to reveal face down card; (j) determining game outcome by using Blackjack rules (described above) as a basis to make a comparison between each player's hand and the dealer's hand. Each player's hand is comprised of: (1) the face up card dealt to him, (2) the community card value selected, and (3) possibly the optional face down card. The dealer's hand is comprised of (1) his first card, (2) the community card value he selected, and (3) possibly the optional second card. In alternate embodiments of the invention, step “a” comprises requiring an ante bet to participate in the game and an optional side wager.

Another aspect of the present invention is directed to a gaming layout that includes: at least one player position that is adapted to identify a player's set of cards and includes at least one betting location; a first position to designate a first community card value; a second position to designate a second community card value; and a third position to designate a third community card value. The gaming layout may further comprise a second betting location adapted to identify a player's side wager. In one embodiment of the present invention, the first position, second position, and third position designate the community card values of “4”, “7”, and “10” respectively.

The above description sets forth a summary of embodiments of the present invention so that the detailed description that follows may be better understood and contributions of the present invention to the art may be better appreciated. Some of the embodiments of the present invention may not include all of the features or characteristics listed in the above summary. There may be, of course, other features of the invention that will be described below and may form the subject matter of claims. In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in further detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the construction and to the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or as illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways; for example, the invention may be carried out through software on a computer or other electronic medium. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

Other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, various features of embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a block diagram showing generally the steps of a gaming method in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 depicts a flowchart showing substantially a sequence of steps of a gaming method in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 depicts a top plan view of a gaming layout in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a player position of the gaming layout of FIG. 3 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a portion of the dealer's position of the gaming layout of FIG. 3 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following description of embodiments of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this application. The drawings show, by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

The order in which the steps are presented below is not limited to any particular order and does not necessarily imply that they have to be performed in the order presented. It will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the order of these steps can be rearranged and performed in any suitable manner. It further will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that some steps may be omitted or added and still fall within the spirit of the invention.

Gaming Method

The present invention comprises a gaming method and an apparatus that may be used to implement the gaming method. In general, the gaming method is designed to reward players who have compiled hands that are better than the dealer's hand based on conventional Blackjack rules. Traditional Blackjack rules are used to value the cards and to determine game outcome. At least one standard deck of 52 playing cards is used in the present invention although up to eight decks of cards may be used on a Blackjack-sized table. These cards each have a numerical or letter value, and a suit associated with them. A standard deck consists of four sets (of thirteen cards each) numbered as follows: A (ace), 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, J (jack), Q (queen), and K (king). There are four cards of each value, one of each “suit”: spades, diamonds, clubs, and hearts. As in conventional Blackjack, the suit is irrelevant for purposes of the present invention, and only the value of the card is considered. The value of the cards is computed as follows: for cards valued two through nine, they are given the value shown on the card; tens, jacks, queens, and kings are each valued as ten points; aces may be valued as one point, or as eleven points, at the player's discretion.

To determine whether the player or the dealer wins a hand, the value of each card in the player's hand is added together. If the value of all the cards in a player's hand ever exceeds a score of 21, then the player “busts” and loses the hand (keeping in mind that the player may choose to value aces as one if necessary). If the player does not bust, then the person with the cards that total the highest value wins the hand. If the combined values of the cards in the player's hand and the dealer's hand are the same, then the hand is usually a “push,” wherein neither the player nor the dealer wins the hand.

As depicted in the block diagram of FIG. 1, the gaming method of the present invention generally comprises: dealing at least one card (“first card”) each to one or more players and to the dealer (block 500); requiring each player and the dealer to select a community card value from a set of predetermined community cards to pair with their first card (block 600); allowing each player and the dealer to decide whether to use an additional card to form their hand (block 700); and allowing each player and the dealer to create a Blackjack hand comprising: (1) the first card, (2) the community card value selected, and (3) possibly an optional additional card (block 800). Each player's hand is then compared to the dealer's hand using the rules of Blackjack (block 900) and the bets are resolved according to a predetermined payout schedule (block 1000).

Referring now to FIG. 2, in one embodiment of the present invention, the gaming method of the invention begins with a dealer shuffling a set of cards (step 10). A single deck or up to eight decks of cards may be used. The players are then asked to place their bets (step 20) before any cards are dealt. The bets comprise of an ante or a mandatory bet to participate in the game. In some embodiments of the present invention, the bets may further comprise of an additional side wager or “combo bonus.”

After the dealer shuffles the cards and the players have placed their bets, the dealer deals one face up card and one face down card to each player (step 30). (The term “face up” card may be used to refer to a card that is laid out to the players and to the dealer such that the card's game indicia are visible to the players and the dealer.) At this juncture, the players are not yet permitted to view the face down card. The dealer then deals a first card and second card, both face down, to himself (step 40).

Next, at step 50, after seeing their face up card, each player is given the opportunity to select a community card value from a set of three predetermined community card values of “4”, “7”, and “10”. This selected value is to be added to the value of the player's face up card. The community cards indicate values from which all players and the dealer must select from to form their hand. However, other predetermined values may be used. For instance, in an alternate embodiment of the invention, community card values of “3”, “8”, and “10” may be used in the game. Furthermore, the amount of predetermined values form which to choose from is not limited to three predetermined values. There may be one predetermined community card value that must be used in forming each player's hand or there may be two, four, five, and so forth. However, the present invention incorporates the use of three predetermined values to provide the players with options with respect to forming their hands, and three predetermined values is not too many to severely slow down the flow of play.

There are no actual physical community cards utilized in the embodiment of the present invention depicted in FIG. 2. It is the value of the community cards that are implemented in the gaming method and it is these values that are incorporated into the gaming layout. However, in alternate embodiments, the predetermined community card values may also be determined by dealing at least one community card or randomly selecting at least one community card from a stack of cards for use by all the players and the dealer. In such embodiments, there is a physical or actual community card used in the game. In other embodiments of the invention, a mere point system may be used instead of community card values though it would likely have the same effect of using community card values. In such embodiments, the predetermined point values may be included on the gaming layout.

In step 50, when the player selects a community card value from the set of three predetermined community card values of “4”, “7”, and “10”, the player may indicate his selection in a variety of ways. For instance, the player may place his face up card above, below, next to, or over the selected community card value, or he may cover the other community card values that he did not select with his face up card. If the player decides not to use the face down card in step 60, the player may place his face up card horizontally across the non-selected community card values to indicate that he will not be using any additional cards to form his hand (i.e., his hand will only comprise of the face up card and community card value selected). If the player chooses to use his face down card he may place his face up card on one non-selected community card value, his face down card on another non-selected community card value and allow the selected community card value to be uncovered and visible. This method of selection may make it easier for the dealer to add the cards together when comparing hands as the dealer will just have to add the values of the cards horizontally and there would be no unwanted card values visible that could cause some confusion or slow the flow of play. Nevertheless, the method of indicating the community card value selected may vary depending on the house or casino's preference.

At step 60, the player is allowed to decide whether to use his face down card to form his hand. If he chooses not to use the face down card, then the dealer collects the face down card (step 70). However, if the player chooses to use the face down card, then the face down card remains face down (step 80) and the player is unable to view it until later.

In alternate embodiments of the invention, only one card is dealt face up to each player in step 30 and there is no face down card dealt. Then, at step 60 wherein each player is provided with the opportunity to use a second card to form their hand, the player must decide whether to have a second card dealt to him. In essence, the second card is the same as the face down card in the embodiment of the invention depicted in FIG. 2, and the main difference is the method or sequence of dealing the cards. Dealing only requested cards may make the flow of play more fluid as there are not any unnecessary cards on the table and the dealer does not have the extra duty of discarding any unwanted cards. Rather, the dealer deals a second card only to the players who decide in step 60 that they will use a second card to form their hand. However, the method or sequence of dealing the players cards is a matter of preference for the casino and does not change the scope of the invention.

After all players have made their decisions with respect to their face down cards, the dealer reveals his first card (step 90). Then the dealer is given the opportunity to select a community card value from a set of three predetermined community card values of “4”, “7”, and “10” to pair with his first card (step 100). However, the dealer must select his community card value (house community card value) according to a predetermined set of house rules as follows: (1) If the dealer's first card is an ace, 10, 9, or 8, then the he must select community card value “10”; (2) If the dealer's first card is a 7, 6, or 5, then he must select community card value “4”; and (3) If the dealer's first card is a 4, 3, or 2, then he must select community card value “7”. The dealer may indicate his community card value selection by any of the ways a player may indicate his community card value selection as described above.

Then at step 110, the dealer reveals his second card. In step 120, the dealer must make a decision whether to use his second card. At this juncture, the dealer cannot change the community card value he initially selected based on the revelation of his second card. If the second card can be used to improve his existing hand (i.e., the dealer's first card and the community card value selected) by raising the value of the hand closer to 21, then the dealer must use the second card (step 140). If the second card cannot improve his existing hand (because it would cause the dealer's hand to total over 21 and cause the dealer to bust), then the dealer discards the second card (step 130). For example, if the dealer's first card is a 9, then he must select community card value “10”. If the second card is any card other than an ace or 2, the dealer must discard it; otherwise he must use it since an ace or 2 can improve his hand of 19.

Once the dealer has played out his hand, the players who decided to use their face down cards in step 80 now reveal their face down cards (step 150). This face down card will be added to the player's first card and the community card value he chose. Thus, at this juncture (step 160), both the players and the dealer can form their complete Blackjack hands wherein each player's hand is comprised of: (1) the player's face up card, (2) the community card value selected, and (3) optionally the player's face down card; and the dealer's hand is comprised of: (1) his first card, (2) the community card value he selected, and (3) optionally his second card. Next, each player's hand is compared to the dealer's hand (step 170) using conventional Blackjack scoring rules. Game outcome is then determined and bets are resolved (step 180) according to a designated payout schedule. If the player's score exceeds 21, then the hand loses immediately. Otherwise, whoever has the higher score wins the hand. A tie is a push and the player is given back his ante. Additionally, an ace and a ten-value card always count as 21. All scores of 21 are equal whether they are a two-card 21, three-card 21, or “21 Combo.”

In one embodiment of the present invention, a winning hand is paid even money unless the hand is a “21 Combo,” which is paid 3 to 2. A “21 Combo” is comprised of a 4-7-10 or 7-4-10, in that particular order, with no face cards, although 10 cards count. For example, the hand comprised of a 7-4-King is not a 21 Combo but rather it is just a hand with a score of 21. However, it is up to the house or casino's preference whether to make a 21 Combo an automatic winner that gets paid 3 to 2. Of course, the payout schedule may be modified with different payout scales as desired.

Side Bet

As mentioned above, in alternate embodiments of the invention, an optional side bet may be incorporated into the gaming method of the present invention. In such embodiments, in addition to the ante or mandatory bet to participate in the game, a player may choose to make an additional side bet before any cards are dealt to him. This side bet would likely be made in step 2 of FIG. 2. Such side bets may be made for the occurrences of a variety of events. For instance, in one embodiment of the invention, a player may make a side bet that their hand will be comprised of one of the following winning combinations: TABLE 1 Hand Type Suited 4-7-10 or 7-4-10 Suited 4-7-J, 4-7-Q, 4-7-K, 7-4-J, 7-4-Q or 7-4-K Unsuited 4-7-10 or 7-4-10 Unsuited 4-7-J, 4-7-Q, 4-7-K, 7-4-J, 7-4-Q or 7-4-K

In TABLE 1, the first card of any winning combinations above is the community card value which the player chooses. The community card values of this embodiment of the invention include no suits. The cards in the player's hand must be in the above-identified order to win. For example, 4-10-7 or 7-J-4 is not a winning combination.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the following payout schedule may be used to resolve each player's side bet: TABLE 2 Pay Table “A” For Side Bet Final Hand Payment Suited 4-7-10 or 7-4-10 60-1 Suited 4-7-J, 4-7-Q, 4-7-K, 7-4-J, 7-4-Q or 7-4-K 25-1 Unsuited 4-7-10 or 7-4-10 20-1 Unsuited 4-7-J, 4-7-Q, 4-7-K, 7-4-J, 7-4-Q or 7-4-K 11-1

In another embodiment of the present invention, the following payout schedule may be used to resolve each player's side bet: TABLE 3 Pay Table “B” For Side Bet Final Hand Payment Suited 4-7-10 or 7-4-10 60-1 Suited 4-7-J, 4-7-Q, 4-7-K, 7-4-J, 7-4-Q or 7-4-K 25-1 Unsuited 4-7-10 or 7-4-10 20-1 Unsuited 4-7-J, 4-7-Q, 4-7-K, 7-4-J, 7-4-Q or 7-4-K 10-1

Yet, in an alternate embodiment of the present invention, the following payout schedule may be used to resolve each player's side bet: TABLE 4 Pay Table “C” For Side Bet Final Hand Payment Suited 4-7-10 or 7-4-10 60-1 Suited 4-7-J, 4-7-Q, 4-7-K, 7-4-J, 7-4-Q or 7-4-K 25-1 Unsuited 4-7-10 or 7-4-10 20-1 Unsuited 4-7-J, 4-7-Q, 4-7-K, 7-4-J, 7-4-Q or 7-4-K  8-1

It can be realized from the embodiments described herein that the present invention provides a modified Blackjack game that adds new excitement and larger rewards than traditional Blackjack games. The above-described embodiments of the present invention have many advantages. For instance, the embodiments that incorporate a side bet and utilize the payout schedules presented above may provide the player with games that are more rewarding (for both players and casinos). In conventional Blackjack, a player may earn one-and-a-half times his original bet on a “blackjack,” but otherwise he is limited to winning the amount that he wagers (even by splitting or doubling down, the player must double his original bet for a chance to win only that doubled amount). In contrast, the present invention offers the possibility for a player to make side bets whereby he has an opportunity to win eight, ten, twenty, or even sixty times his original side bet (TABLES 2-4).

The present invention retains some of the features and advantages of Blackjack while also providing the player with more control of the cards dealt to him and the dynamics of a side wager for enhanced player anticipation and enjoyment. A player may feel like he has more control because the present invention provides him with options. For instance, the player has an option of selecting a community card value to be used with the first card dealt to him. The player also has the option of using or discarding a second card (in addition to his first card and community card value) to form his hand. Thus, the player may feel that he is not stuck with a particular card.

The invention therefore benefits the player who desires a novel variation of Blackjack as well as the player who does not want to have to learn new rules for valuing cards and scoring hands, but desires some variety. Additionally, with the incorporation of a side bet, the invention provides casinos with the potential of generating more revenue. Nonetheless, it is advantageous to offer Blackjack players some variation in the game to maintain their long-term interest.

As described in the EXAMPLES section below, certain embodiments of the present invention have reasonable odds for both the player and the house. This is another advantage of the invention because, to be a viable casino game, the gaming method should provide opportunity for a reasonable return for both the house and the player.

It is to be understood, that although some advantages of the present invention are described herein, it is not necessary that all the advantageous features and/or all the advantages need to be incorporated into every embodiment of the invention.

Gaming Layout

Referring now to FIG. 3, an embodiment of a gaming layout 60 of the present invention is shown. Gaming layout 60 may be made with the common shapes of conventional casino gaming tables such as a semi-circular shape. Gaming layout 60 may also be made with materials of conventional gaming tables, such as felt, vinyl, wood, plastic, laminate, and/or marble. In alternate embodiments of the present invention, gaming layout 60 may be a video or computer representation of a conventional gaming table.

Gaming layout 60 includes a plurality of player positions 62 a-g, which is adapted to distinguish each player's bets and cards from those of the other players. Although seven player positions are depicted in FIG. 3, any suitable number of player positions may be included in a gaming layout of the present invention. The number of player positions may vary depending on the size of the gaming table and the number of players a casino wishes to accommodate in one given game. Also, it is not necessary that all player positions be utilized while the game is being played. At least one player position needs to be utilized for the game to be played.

Gaming layout 60 further includes a dealer position 64 where the dealer may store gaming chips 66 and place his cards. Like player positions 62 a-g, the dealer position 64 includes an area that designates the predetermined community card values from which he must select to form his hand.

Referring now to FIG. 4, each player position 62 includes an ante position 72 and an additional betting position 74. Ante position 72 is where the player positions his initial bet to participate in the game. Additional betting position 74 is where the player places his optional side bet. Furthermore, each player position includes: a first position 82 to designate a first community card value, a second position 84 to designate a second community card value, and a third position 86 to designate a third community card value. In the embodiment of the invention depicted in FIG. 3, first position 82, second position 84, and third position 86 designate the community card values of “4”, “7”, and “10” respectively. As mentioned before, the community card values are not limited to “4”, “7”, and “10”. For instance, in alternate embodiments of the invention, the first position 82, second position 84 and third position 86 may designate community card values of “3”, “8”, and “10” respectively. Also, the amount of predetermined values from which to choose is not limited to three predetermined values. For instance, in other variations of the invention there may be one predetermined community card value that must be used in forming each player's hand and in other variations, there may be two, four, or five community card values from which to choose from.

Additionally, in alternate embodiments in which the predetermined community card values are determined by dealing at least one community card or by drawing at least one community card from a stack of cards for use by all the players and the dealer, the community card value positions 82, 84, and 86 may be adapted to be distinct from each other and may include a number, symbol, character, and/or logo designating which community card is to be placed thereon. For example, a community card position may be labeled “1” to indicate that the first community card drawn should be placed thereon and another community card position may be labeled “2” to indicate that the second community card drawn should be placed thereon.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a portion of the dealer's position of the gaming layout of FIG. 3 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Like the player's position depicted in FIG. 4, the dealer's position includes his own set of community card positions 92, 94, and 96 located substantially in the center of the dealer position 64 (FIG. 3). Like the community card positions included within the player's position in FIG. 4, the community card positions 92, 94, and 96 are individually adapted to identify each community card value from which the dealer must select from to form his hand. The embodiment depicted in FIG. 3 shows that the dealer (and players) must select a community card value of either “4”, “7”, or “10”.

Of course, the number, locations, and designs of the player's betting positions and/or community card value positions may be adjusted as desired so long as they remain within reasonable access for the player and the dealer. Also, any label, symbols, characters and/or logos may be included within the betting locations or community card positions so long as the meaning of the designation is clear to the players and dealer. Other features may be included within the gaming layout 60 such as payout schedules/tables, rules of play, logos, trademarks, casino name, and/or design or artistic elements.

EXAMPLES

The embodiment of the invention depicted in the subsequent examples uses the following rules of play or sequence of steps.

Rules of Play/Sequence of Steps

In this embodiment of the present invention, play beings with every player making a bet. Each player is then dealt two cards, one face up and one face down. The dealer also deals himself two cards face down.

After seeing the face up card, each player must: (1) choose one of the three community card values to pair with his face up card and place the face up card over the card box designating the community value selected; and (2) let the dealer know whether he is going to use his face down card (players are disallowed to look at the down card). The dealer will put away the player's face down card if he does not want it; otherwise, the face down card will remain face down.

After all players have made their decisions, the dealer will reveal his first face down card and pair it with one of the three card boxes in front of the chip rack according to the house rules described herein. Depending on the value of his first card, the dealer has to choose the card box (i.e., community card value) as follows: (A) if the first face down card is an Ace, 10, 9, or 8, then the dealer must choose community card value 10; (B) if the first face down card is a 7, 6, or 5, then the dealer must choose community card value 4; and (C) if the first face down card is a 4, 3, or 2, then the dealer must choose community card value 7.

The dealer then reveals his second down card. If the second card can be used to improve the dealer's hand then the dealer must use it; otherwise, the dealer simply discards it. Once the dealer has played out his hand, he will compare his score with each player's score. Any down card that was not discarded will be revealed and added to the player's first card and the value within the card box he chose. If the player's score goes over 21, the hand loses immediately. Otherwise, whoever has the higher score wins the hand. A tie is a push.

A winning player hand is paid even money unless the hand is a “21 Combo,” which is paid 3 to 2. A 21 Combo is composed of 4-7-10 or 7-4-10, in that order, and no face cards but tens count. Additionally, an ace and a ten-value card always count as 21. All scores of 21 are equal whether they are a 2-card 21, a 3-card 21, or a 21-Combo.

Mathematical Analysis

The following mathematical analysis of the above-described embodiment was conducted by Gambology of Las Vegas, Nev. A computer program was developed to compute the probability distribution and the house advantage. TABLE 5 1 Deck Player Face- Card Box Down Card % Overall up Card Selection Use % Expectation Return A 10 n 85.0196 6.5400 2 7 y −51.0412 −3.9262 3 7 y −25.3862 −1.9528 4 7 y −10.4410 −0.8032 5 4 y −51.2013 −3.9386 6 4 y −25.5366 −1.9644 7 4 y −10.5658 −0.8128 8 10 n −46.7451 −3.5958 9 10 n −22.5882 −1.7376 T 10 n 29.6471 9.1222 Total −3.0690 Legend: T = any ten-value card n = No y = Yes Card Box Selection = community card selection The house advantage is 3.069%.

TABLE 6 2 Decks Player Face- Card Box Down Card % Overall up Card Selection Use % Expectation Return A 10 n 83.9140 6.4549 2 7 y −50.9446 −3.9188 3 7 y −25.2582 −1.9429 4 7 y −9.9726 −0.7671 5 4 y −51.0185 −3.9245 6 4 y −25.3298 −1.9484 7 4 y −10.0322 −0.7717 8 10 n −46.1451 −3.5496 9 10 n −22.2349 −1.7104 T 10 n 29.3166 9.0205 Total −3.0581 The house advantage is 3.0581%.

TABLE 7 4 Decks Player Face- Card Box Down Card % Overall up Card Selection Use % Expectation Return A 10 n 83.3732 6.4133 2 7 y −50.8941 −3.9149 3 7 y −25.1922 −1.9379 4 7 y −9.7416 −0.7494 5 4 y −50.9296 −3.9177 6 4 y −25.2272 −1.9406 7 4 y −9.7707 −0.7516 8 10 n −45.8515 −3.5270 9 10 n −22.0628 −1.6971 T 10 n 29.1544 8.9706 Total −3.0522 The house advantage is 3.0522%.

TABLE 8 6 Decks Player Face- Card Box Down Card % Overall up Card Selection Use % Expectation Return A 10 n 83.1947 6.3996 2 7 y −50.8769 −3.9136 3 7 y −25.1700 −1.9362 4 7 y −9.6652 −0.7435 5 4 y −50.9003 −3.9154 6 4 y −25.1931 −1.9379 7 4 y −9.6844 −0.7450 8 10 n −45.7546 −3.5196 9 10 n −22.0060 −1.6928 T 10 n 29.1007 8.9541 Total −3.0502 The house advantage is 3.0502%.

TABLE 9 8 Decks Player Face- Card Box Down Card % Overall up Card Selection Use % Expectation Return A 10 n 83.1058 6.3928 2 7 y −50.8682 −3.9129 3 7 y −25.1588 −1.9353 4 7 y −9.6270 −0.7405 5 4 y −50.8856 −3.9143 6 4 y −25.1761 −1.9366 7 4 y −9.6414 −0.7416 8 10 n −45.7063 −3.5159 9 10 n −21.9778 −1.6906 T 10 n 29.0740 8.9458 Total −3.0492 The house advantage is 3.0492%.

A computer simulation of 530 million hands was run to verify the analysis. The results of the simulation using six decks are shown below:

-   /// -   ///

/// TABLE 10 Player Hand Probability Win 37.23% Loss 41.76% Tie 20.03% Winning 21 Combo 0.98% House advantage 3.05%

If the player's 21 Combo is an automatic winner, the house advantage will be as follows: TABLE 11 # Decks % House Advantage 1 2.7551 2 2.7489 4 2.7454 6 2.7441 8 2.7435 Side Bet

The following is an analysis of the embodiments that incorporate the rules of play/sequence of steps indicated above as well as an additional side bet. In such embodiments of the invention, a player may make a side bet that their hand will be comprised of one of the winning combinations identified in TABLE 1. TABLE 12 Side Bet Analysis: Pay Table A (See TABLE 2 for Pay Table A) 1 Deck % % Expected Hand Type Probability Pay Return Suited 4-7-10 or 7-4-10 0.3017 60 18.0995 Suited 4-7-J, 4-7-Q, 4-7-K, 0.9050 25 22.6244 7-4-J, 7-4-Q or 7-4-K Unsuited 4-7-10 or 7-4-10 0.9050 20 18.0995 Unsuited 4-7-J, 4-7-Q, 4-7-K, 2.7149 11 29.8643 7-4-J, 7-4-Q or 7-4-K Nothing 95.1735 −1 −95.1735 Total 100.0000 −6.4857 The hit frequency is 4.8265% and the house edge is 6.4857%.

TABLE 13 Side Bet Analysis: Pay Table A (See TABLE 2 for Pay Table A) 2 Decks % % Expected Hand Type Probability Pay Return Suited 4-7-10 or 7-4-10 0.2987 60 17.9238 Suited 4-7-J, 4-7-Q, 4-7-K, 0.8962 25 22.4048 7-4-J, 7-4-Q or 7-4-K Unsuited 4-7-10 or 7-4-10 0.8962 20 17.9238 Unsuited 4-7-J, 4-7-Q, 4-7-K, 2.6886 11 29.5743 7-4-J, 7-4-Q or 7-4-K Nothing 95.2203 −1 −95.2203 Total 100.0000 −7.3936 The hit frequency is 4.7797% and the house edge is 7.3936%.

TABLE 14 Side Bet Analysis: Pay Table A (See TABLE 2 for Pay Table A) 4 Decks % % Expected Hand Type Probability Pay Return Suited 4-7-10 or 7-4-10 0.2973 60 17.8372 Suited 4-7-J, 4-7-Q, 4-7-K, 0.8919 25 22.2965 7-4-J, 7-4-Q or 7-4-K Unsuited 4-7-10 or 7-4-10 0.8919 20 17.8372 Unsuited 4-7-J, 4-7-Q, 4-7-K, 2.6756 11 29.4314 7-4-J, 7-4-Q or 7-4-K Nothing 95.2434 −1 −95.2434 Total 100.0000 −7.8410 The hit frequency is 4.7566% and the house edge is 7.8410%.

TABLE 15 Side Bet Analysis: Pay Table A (See TABLE 2 for Pay Table A) 6 Decks % % Expected Hand Type Probability Pay Return Suited 4-7-10 or 7-4-10 0.2968 60 17.8086 Suited 4-7-J, 4-7-Q, 4-7-K, 0.8904 25 22.2607 7-4-J, 7-4-Q or 7-4-K Unsuited 4-7-10 or 7-4-10 0.8904 20 17.8086 Unsuited 4-7-J, 4-7-Q, 4-7-K, 2.6713 11 29.3841 7-4-J, 7-4-Q or 7-4-K Nothing 95.2511 −1 −95.2511 Total 100.0000 −7.9891 The hit frequency is 4.7489% and the house edge is 7.9891%.

TABLE 16 Side Bet Analysis: Pay Table A (See TABLE 2 for Pay Table A) 8 Decks % % Expected Hand Type Probability Pay Return Suited 4-7-10 or 7-4-10 0.2966 60 17.7943 Suited 4-7-J, 4-7-Q, 4-7-K, 0.8897 25 22.2428 7-4-J, 7-4-Q or 7-4-K Unsuited 4-7-10 or 7-4-10 0.8897 20 17.7943 Unsuited 4-7-J, 4-7-Q, 4-7-K, 2.6691 11 29.3605 7-4-J, 7-4-Q or 7-4-K Nothing 95.2549 −1 −95.2549 Total 100.0000 −8.0630 The hit frequency is 4.7451% and the house edge is 8.0630%.

TABLE 17 Side Bet Analysis: Pay Table B (See TABLE 3 for Pay Table B) 1 Deck % % Expected Hand Type Probability Pay Return Suited 4-7-10 or 7-4-10 0.3017 60 18.0995 Suited 4-7-J, 4-7-Q, 4-7-K, 0.9050 25 22.6244 7-4-J, 7-4-Q or 7-4-K Unsuited 4-7-10 or 7-4-10 0.9050 20 18.0995 Unsuited 4-7-J, 4-7-Q, 4-7-K, 2.7149 10 27.1493 7-4-J, 7-4-Q or 7-4-K Nothing 95.1735 −1 −95.1735 Total 100.0000 −9.2006 The hit frequency is 4.8265% and the house edge is 9.2006%.

TABLE 18 Side Bet Analysis: Pay Table B (See TABLE 3 for Pay Table B) 2 Decks % % Expected Hand Type Probability Pay Return Suited 4-7-10 or 7-4-10 0.2987 60 17.9238 Suited 4-7-J, 4-7-Q, 4-7-K, 0.8962 25 22.4048 7-4-J, 7-4-Q or 7-4-K Unsuited 4-7-10 or 7-4-10 0.8962 20 17.9238 Unsuited 4-7-J, 4-7-Q, 4-7-K, 2.6886 10 26.8857 7-4-J, 7-4-Q or 7-4-K Nothing 95.2203 −1 −95.2203 Total 100.0000 −10.0822 The hit frequency is 4.7797% and the house edge is 10.0822%.

TABLE 19 Side Bet Analysis: Pay Table B (See TABLE 3 for Pay Table B) 4 Decks % % Expected Hand Type Probability Pay Return Suited 4-7-10 or 7-4-10 0.2973 60 17.8372 Suited 4-7-J, 4-7-Q, 4-7-K, 0.8919 25 22.2965 7-4-J, 7-4-Q or 7-4-K Unsuited 4-7-10 or 7-4-10 0.8919 20 17.8372 Unsuited 4-7-J, 4-7-Q, 4-7-K, 2.6756 10 26.7559 7-4-J, 7-4-Q or 7-4-K Nothing 95.2434 −1 −95.2434 Total 100.0000 −10.5165 The hit frequency is 4.7566% and the house edge is 10.5165%.

TABLE 20 Side Bet Analysis: Pay Table B (See TABLE 3 for Pay Table B) 6 Decks % % Expected Hand Type Probability Pay Return Suited 4-7-10 or 7-4-10 0.2968 60 17.8086 Suited 4-7-J, 4-7-Q, 4-7-K, 0.8904 25 22.2607 7-4-J, 7-4-Q or 7-4-K Unsuited 4-7-10 or 7-4-10 0.8904 20 17.8086 Unsuited 4-7-J, 4-7-Q, 4-7-K, 2.6713 10 26.7128 7-4-J, 7-4-Q or 7-4-K Nothing 95.2511 −1 −95.2511 Total 100.0000 −10.6604 The hit frequency is 4.7489% and the house edge is 10.6604%.

TABLE 21 Side Bet Analysis: Pay Table B (See TABLE 3 for Pay Table B) 8 Decks % % Expected Hand Type Probability Pay Return Suited 4-7-10 or 7-4-10 0.2966 60 17.7943 Suited 4-7-J, 4-7-Q, 4-7-K, 0.8897 25 22.2428 7-4-J, 7-4-Q or 7-4-K Unsuited 4-7-10 or 7-4-10 0.8897 20 17.7943 Unsuited 4-7-J, 4-7-Q, 4-7-K, 2.6691 10 26.6914 7-4-J, 7-4-Q or 7-4-K Nothing 95.2549 −1 −95.2549 Total 100.0000 −10.7322 The hit frequency is 4.7451% and the house edge is 10.7322%.

TABLE 22 Side Bet Analysis: Pay Table C (See TABLE 4 for Pay Table C) 1 Deck % % Expected Hand Type Probability Pay Return Suited 4-7-10 or 7-4-10 0.3017 60 18.0995 Suited 4-7-J, 4-7-Q, 4-7-K, 0.9050 25 22.6244 7-4-J, 7-4-Q or 7-4-K Unsuited 4-7-10 or 7-4-10 0.9050 20 18.0995 Unsuited 4-7-J, 4-7-Q, 4-7-K, 2.7149 8 21.7195 7-4-J, 7-4-Q or 7-4-K Nothing 95.1735 −1 −95.1735 Total 100.0000 −14.6305 The hit frequency is 4.8265% and the house edge is 14.6305%.

TABLE 23 Side Bet Analysis: Pay Table C (See TABLE 4 for Pay Table C) 2 Decks % % Expected Hand Type Probability Pay Return Suited 4-7-10 or 7-4-10 0.2987 60 17.9238 Suited 4-7-J, 4-7-Q, 4-7-K, 0.8962 25 22.4048 7-4-J, 7-4-Q or 7-4-K Unsuited 4-7-10 or 7-4-10 0.8962 20 17.9238 Unsuited 4-7-J, 4-7-Q, 4-7-K, 2.6886 8 21.5086 7-4-J, 7-4-Q or 7-4-K Nothing 95.2203 −1 −95.2203 Total 100.0000 −15.4593 The hit frequency is 4.7797% and the house edge is 15.4593%.

TABLE 24 Side Bet Analysis: Pay Table C (See TABLE 4 for Pay Table C) 4 Decks % % Expected Hand Type Probability Pay Return Suited 4-7-10 or 7-4-10 0.2973 60 17.8372 Suited 4-7-J, 4-7-Q, 4-7-K, 0.8919 25 22.2965 7-4-J, 7-4-Q or 7-4-K Unsuited 4-7-10 or 7-4-10 0.8919 20 17.8372 Unsuited 4-7-J, 4-7-Q, 4-7-K, 2.6756 8 21.4047 7-4-J, 7-4-Q or 7-4-K Nothing 95.2434 −1 −95.2434 Total 100.0000 −1 −15.8677 The hit frequency is 4.7566% and the house edge is 15.8677%.

TABLE 25 Side Bet Analysis: Pay Table C (See TABLE 4 for Pay Table C) 6 Decks % % Expected Hand Type Probability Pay Return Suited 4-7-10 or 7-4-10 0.2968 60 17.8086 Suited 4-7-J, 4-7-Q, 4-7-K, 0.8904 25 22.2607 7-4-J, 7-4-Q or 7-4-K Unsuited 4-7-10 or 7-4-10 0.8904 20 17.8086 Unsuited 4-7-J, 4-7-Q, 4-7-K, 2.6713 8 21.3703 7-4-J, 7-4-Q or 7-4-K Nothing 95.2511 −1 −95.2511 Total 100.0000 −16.0030 The hit frequency is 4.7489% and the house edge is 16.0030%.

TABLE 26 Side Bet Analysis: Pay Table C (See TABLE 4 for Pay Table C) 8 Decks % % Expected Hand Type Probability Pay Return Suited 4-7-10 or 7-4-10 0.2966 60 17.7943 Suited 4-7-J, 4-7-Q, 4-7-K, 0.8897 25 22.2428 7-4-J, 7-4-Q or 7-4-K Unsuited 4-7-10 or 7-4-10 0.8897 20 17.7943 Unsuited 4-7-J, 4-7-Q, 4-7-K, 2.6691 8 21.3531 7-4-J, 7-4-Q or 7-4-K Nothing 95.2549 −1 −95.2549 Total 100.0000 −16.0704 The hit frequency is 4.7451% and the house edge is 16.0704%.

Although the present invention has been described above in considerable detail with reference to certain versions thereof, other versions are possible. For example, the gaming method described above is not limited to being played as a table game. The gaming method may be played as a board game or by using computers or electronic devices having audio and video outputs. Thus, the term “cards” as used in this application refers to traditional cards made of paper stock having traditional game indicia, such as numbers (2-10), suits (diamonds, hearts, spades, and clubs), and characters (aces, jacks, queens, and kings). The term “cards” is also used to refer to electronic images of traditional cards. The term “dealer” may be an actual person distributing the cards. It is noted that the dealer may also be a player, and the dealer does not have to be associated with a business entity having a stake in any profits derived from operating the game. The term “dealer” may also be used to refer to a virtual dealer that is programmed through an electronic device or computer.

The invention can be readily implemented in a wide variety of additional forms and media including, but not limited to: single player slot video machines, multi-player slot video machines, electronic games and devices, lottery terminals, scratch-card formats, software, as well as in-flight, home, and Internet entertainment. Furthermore, the invention can be readily implemented in software, which can be stored on a disk (e.g., magnetic disk, compact disc (CD), USB memory stick, etc.) and used with a computer system. In one embodiment, the gaming method of the present invention may be implemented as a computer game that may be executed via disk or downloaded from the Internet and played using a computer, gaming console, or an electronic handheld device (e.g., personal digital assistants (PDA), mobile phones, etc.). Such embodiments may be played individually or may be played with other players. In another embodiment, the present invention may be played as an interactive online gambling game wherein the player may play against the dealer individually or with other players via the Internet. The dealer may be an actual person or a virtual dealer. Similarly, the other players may be actual people or they may be computer generated virtual players. In yet other embodiments of the invention, the gaming method may be played against a casino or wagering establishment from a remote location via the Internet.

Additionally, some steps of the gaming method described herein may be added, omitted, or modified. For instance, instead of dealing one face up card and one face down to each player, one card may initially be dealt to each player. Then, if the player decides that he wants to use another card to form his hand, he may then “hit” or have another card dealt to him. Some of the steps described in the various embodiments herein are for illustrative purposes (i.e., they are described to exemplify how the flow of play may occur in a casino establishment), and as such, some of the steps may be modified, added, or omitted without departing form the scope of the invention.

While the description above refers to particular embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit thereof. The presently disclosed embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. 

1. A method of playing a modified blackjack game, the method comprising: a. dealing at least one card to at least one player and to a dealer; b. requiring each player and the dealer to select a community card value from a set of predetermined community card values; c. allowing each player and the dealer to decide whether to use an additional card to form their hand; and d. allowing each player and the dealer to create a blackjack hand comprising: (1) the at least one card, (2) the community card value selected, and (3) optionally the additional card.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the set of predetermined community card values comprise of the values 4, 7, and
 10. 3. The method of claim 1 wherein the set of predetermined community card values comprise of the values 3, 8, and
 10. 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising requiring each player to make an ante bet before any cards are dealt.
 5. The method of claim 4, further comprising allowing each player to make an optional side bet.
 6. The method of claim 4, further comprising predefining a payout schedule for a specific hand with a total value of
 21. 7. The method of claim 6 wherein the specific hand consists of the cards: 4-7-10, wherein the specific hand must not be in a different order and the specific hand is not comprised of a face card.
 8. The method of claim 6 wherein the specific hand consists of the cards: 7-4-10, wherein the specific hand must not be in a different order and the specific hand is not comprised of a face card.
 9. A method of playing a modified blackjack game comprising: a. requiring each player to place at least one bet before receiving any cards; b. dealing a face up card and a face down card to each player; c. dealing a first card and a second card to a dealer, wherein the first card and the second are dealt face down; d. requiring each player to select a community card value from a set of predetermined community card values of “4”, “7”, and “10”; e. allowing each player to decide whether to use the face down card to form his hand, wherein each player is not permitted to view the face down card; f. requiring the dealer to reveal the first card; g. requiring the dealer to select a house community card value from the set of predetermined community card values of “4”, “7”, and “10”; wherein the dealer must select the house community card value according to a predetermined set of house rules; h. allowing the dealer to decide whether to use the second card to form his hand; i. requiring each player to reveal the face down card if player chose to use the face down card in step “e”; j. determining game outcome by using blackjack rules as a basis to make a comparison between each player's hand and the dealer's hand; wherein each player's hand is comprised of: (1) the face up card, (2) the community card value selected, and (3) optionally the face down card; and wherein the dealer's hand is comprised of (1) the first card, (2) the house community card value selected, and (3) optionally the second card.
 10. The method of claim 9 wherein the at least one bet is comprised of an ante bet and an optional side bet.
 11. The method of claim 9 wherein the predetermined set of house rules is comprised of the following rules: (1) If the first card is an ace, 10, 9, or 8, then the dealer must select a community card value “10”; (2) If the first card is a 7, 6, or 5, then the dealer must select a community card value “4”; and (3) If the first card is a 4, 3, or 2, then the dealer must select a community card value “7”.
 12. The method of claim 9, further comprising resolving the at least one bet according to a predefined payout schedule.
 13. The method of claim 12 wherein the payout schedule is as follows: Final Hand Payment 4-7-10 with no face cards 3 to 2 7-4-10 with no face cards 3 to 2 All other winning hands 1 to 1


14. The method of claim 10 further comprising resolving the optional side bet according to a predefined payout schedule as follows: Final Hand Payment Suited 4-7-10 or 7-4-10 60 to 1 Suited 4-7-J, 4-7-Q, 4-7-K, 7-4-J, 7-4-Q or 7-4-K 25 to 1 Unsuited 4-7-10 or 7-4-10 20 to 1 Unsuited 4-7-J, 4-7-Q, 4-7-K, 7-4-J, 7-4-Q or 7-4-K 11 to 1


15. The method of claim 10 further comprising resolving the optional side bet according to a predefined payout schedule as follows: Final Hand Payment Suited 4-7-10 or 7-4-10 60 to 1 Suited 4-7-J, 4-7-Q, 4-7-K, 7-4-J, 7-4-Q or 7-4-K 25 to 1 Unsuited 4-7-10 or 7-4-10 20 to 1 Unsuited 4-7-J, 4-7-Q, 4-7-K, 7-4-J, 7-4-Q or 7-4-K 10 to 1


16. The method of claim 10 further comprising resolving the optional side bet according to a predefined payout schedule as follows: Final Hand Payment Suited 4-7-10 or 7-4-10 60 to 1 Suited 4-7-J, 4-7-Q, 4-7-K, 7-4-J, 7-4-Q or 7-4-K 25 to 1 Unsuited 4-7-10 or 7-4-10 20 to 1 Unsuited 4-7-J, 4-7-Q, 4-7-K, 7-4-J, 7-4-Q or 7-4-K  8 to 1


17. The method of claim 9, further comprising providing a gaming layout for playing the modified blackjack game, said gaming layout comprising: at least one player position that is adapted to identify a player's set of cards and comprises: at least one betting location; a first position to designate a first community card value of “4”; a second position to designate a second community card value of “7”; and a third position to designate a third community card value of “10”.
 18. A gaming layout comprising: at least one player position that is adapted to identify a player's set of cards and comprises: at least one betting location; a first position to designate a first community card value; a second position to designate a second community card value; and a third position to designate a third community card value.
 19. The gaming layout of claim 18 wherein the first community card value is “4”, the second community card value is “7”, and the third community card value is “10”.
 20. The gaming layout of claim 18 wherein the at least one betting location is comprised of an ante position and an additional betting position, wherein the additional betting location is adapted to receive an optional side bet. 